Urology nurses have a role to play in helping men identify strategies to manage their urinary incontinence

Abstract

Introduction: Many men develop urinary incontinence following prostate disease or surgery. People with urinary incontinence use adaptive daily-living strategies to help normalise incontinence in their daily lives, often with minimal assistance from health professionals. This study investigated the relationship between the duration, severity and type of urinary incontinence and the modifying, concealing, containing and restricting management strategies used by men to manage urinary incontinence in their daily lives. Materials and methods: One hundred men suffering urinary incontinence completed a researcher-designed questionnaire that included items related to: daily-living modifying, concealing, containing and restricting continence management strategies; type and duration of incontinence; impact on daily life; and management difficulties experienced. Results: Ninety men completed and returned the questionnaire. The main continence management difficulties men experienced related to management of urinary urgency and frequency. Results indicated that the men used a wide range of modifying, concealing, containing and restricting continence management strategies. No clinically significant relationship was identified between duration of incontinence and any of the strategy groups. Results showed that men develop very individual continence management strategies, some such as restricting fluids, have potentially negative outcomes. Conclusion: Understanding the strategies that men use to manage incontinence in their daily lives will enable urology nurses to assist men undergoing prostate surgery to develop effective continence management strategies as part of their discharge preparation.